Owner of former Black family mansion files for bankruptcy, sheriff's sale canceled
The sale of the former Black family mansion on Marion Avenue to a Fremont man at a sheriff's auction in July has been canceled after the owner filed for bankruptcy.
The mansion's most recent owner, antiques dealer Donald McLaughlin of 818 Marion Ave., filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 13 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio, according to court records.
A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 4 at the Ralph Regula U.S. Courthouse in Canton on the bankruptcy.
$10,000 deposit returned to Fremont man
Richland County Common Pleas Court ordered the Richland County sheriff to release the $10,000 deposit it held after the July 14 sheriff's sale to Ashish Patel of Fremont because the sale was vacated July 18 by order of the court, court records show.
Susan Hughes, who is in charge of sheriff's sales, said the home sold to Ashish Patel of Fremont for $361,200. At the time, Hughes said the sale would not become final for up to 12 weeks.
"If anything happens in the next 4 to 12 weeks — for example, the defendant would pay what he owes — we would give the deposit back to the buyer," she said earlier. Hughes said there are many reasons why the sale could not be finalized, including if the owner in default files for bankruptcy, which was the case with the former Black family mansion.
The sprawling 26-room house was built in 1928 by Frank B. Black, founder of Ohio Brass, on 11.1 acres of land west of the Mansfield Art Center.
The home has a market value of $686,490, according to the Richland County Auditor's website.
Prior to McLaughlin taking up residence at the majestic property, Joel and Margaret Black were the last occupants of the home, moving out in 1981.
Room-sized refrigerator, large swimming pool
According to News Journal archives, the interior of the French country house features numerous examples of so-called ocean liner deco and art deco. Also among interior features are a refrigerator that is a room in itself and a swimming pool the size of Woodland Country Club's pool.
Park National Bank brought the civil suit for nonpayment and a foreclosure action was granted by a judge in Richland County Common Pleas Court in May.
In 1982, the house was facing a wrecking ball. In December 1985 the property was up for sale at a sheriff's auction, according News Journal archives.
A chapter 13 bankruptcy is also called a wage earner's plan. It enables individuals with regular income to develop a plan to repay all or part of their debts. Under this chapter, debtors propose a repayment plan to make installments to creditors over three to five years. If the debtor's current monthly income is less than the applicable state median, the plan will be for three years unless the court approves a longer period "for cause." (1) If the debtor's current monthly income is greater than the applicable state median, the plan generally must be for five years. In no case may a plan provide for payments over a period longer than five years. 11 U.S.C. § 1322(d). During this time the law forbids creditors from starting or continuing collection efforts, according to the U.S. Court system.
Neither McLaughlin nor his Mansfield attorney Douglas Thrush could be reached for comment for this article.
lwhitmir@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: $10K deposit for Mansfield mansion returned to Fremont man
